LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Kelly Clarkson has parted ways with her management company, just two weeks before the release of her new album.
Clarkson, who won American Idol in 2002, has split from longtime manager, Jeff Kwatinetz, of The Firm in Los Angeles. The split comes on the eve of the release of her highly anticipated new CD, My December, on June 26
A spokesperson for The Firm said, "Kelly Clarkson is an enormously talented artist. We are pleased to have served as her managers during her well-deserved rise to stardom and are proud of the role we played in backing her creative choices.”
"We believed in Kelly from the day we met her and believe in her now. We have only the best wishes and hopes for her in the future."
Kelly Clarkson has been the center of several stories recently about how the American Idol winner and pop star wanted to go her own way on her new CD and, from the looks of it; Jeff Kwatinetz won't be going that way with her.
Here's the problem – "going your own way" like Kelly Clarkson has been wanting to do and radio success don't always go hand-in-hand. E! reports that the radio reception for the new single, "Never Again," has been lackluster and that ticket sales for the new tour are just so-so. E! reports that Kwatinetz is taking the heat for the speed bumps hit by Kelly Clarkson in the last few weeks. "Never Again" by Kelly Clarkson debuted and peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
Us Weekly is reporting that Kwatinetz and Kelly Clarkson disagreed over the songs and the director of her new album, My December, and a source claims that "Kelly had enough." A source also told Entertainment Weekly, "He exacerbated a thermonuclear situation. Jeff did everything he could to control Kelly and her career suffered. He should have steered her in the right direction.
The new album from Kelly Clarkson, My December, which is darker than her debut, Thankful, or her breakthrough CD, Breakaway, was written or co-written by Kelly herself. EW quotes Clarkson as saying, "The whole album is a story of the past two years, all the highs and lows. It deals with so many situations, whether it's family, friends, relationships, or myself."
In a controversial move, Kelly Clarkson ditched the producers who made Breakaway, which sold 10 million copies and won Grammys for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Clarkson claimed in a recent interview with Elle, "I’ve sold more than 15 million records worldwide, and still nobody listens to what I have to say. Because I’m 25 and a woman."
Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol and found modest success with Thankful, which produced hits like "A Moment Like This" and "Miss Independent," and the massively successful Breakaway with the hits "Breakaway," "Since U Been Gone," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," "Because of You," and "Walk Away." Thankful sold two million copies domestically and Breakaway sold six million copies in the states.
Clarkson insists the decision was amicable, and said, "I have been so fortunate to be supported by so many talented people in all corners of the music business. Those guys at The Firm did a good job and I really appreciate everything they did."
Kelly was reportedly frustrated with the direction her management company was pushing her in.
Kelly also confessed that she fell out with her team over a song they wanted her to sing on the charity special edition of 'American Idol'.
She told America's Elle magazine, "My label wanted me to sing 'Never Again,' and I was like, to promote yourself on a charity event is beyond crass. People are starving and dying and I'm up there singing some bitter pop song?
"And believe me, everyone wanted me to sing it, because they are jaded and they have no soul. Imagine sitting in a room full of people totally against you. Can't they hear themselves speaking? Capitalize on AIDS? Are you kidding? Insulting an entire nation of people? I just refused." – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
